Magnificent Magnus

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Magnus Carlsen has won first prize in the elite Tata Steel tournament at Wijk aan Zee, Holland. Leading scores out of 13 were Carlsen 9, then Giri, So, Ding Liren and Vachier-Lagrave all in hot pursuit half a point behind. This week’s puzzle shows a crucial variation from one of Carlsen’s best wins. The player who made the greatest mark, apart from the world champion, was 20-year-old Anish Giri, who is maturing into a truly dangerous prospect, notching up himself a four-game winning streak. I kick off this week with a Giri victory from London against a former world champion.

Next here is the promised conclusion to Anand’s subtle demolition of Britain’s leading grandmaster, which sealed Anand’s trophy at the London Classic.

Adams-Anand: London Classic 2014

This was the game which clinched Anand’s first place. White should play 28 f4 with a small advantage but continued over-optimistically and inadvertently permitted Anand to demonstrate the truth of the Steinitzian dictum that the king is a strong piece. 28 e6 fxe6 29 Nxc5 Ke7 30 Nb3 Kd6 31 Kf3 Kd5 32 Kf4 Kc4 33 Nc1 Nxa5 34 Kg5 Nb3 35 Ne2 b4 36 Kxh5 a5 White resigns

Carlsen’s result at Wijk aan Zee marks a welcome return to form. He has not increased his rating since February last year, nor won first prize in a tournament since April. His victory against Anand in the world championship in December was marred by missed opportunities on both sides. What marked out Carlsen’s Wijk aan Zee performance was a six-game stretch of victories, including wins against Caruana, Aronian and Radjabov. This was a great performance.

I have often extolled the virtues of world no. 2 Fabiano Caruana, but he is going to have to watch out for Giri.